EPL side West Ham United will attempt to increase the size of the Olympic Stadium to 60,000 seats, "due to the demand in tickets," according to Tom Sheen of the London INDEPENDENT. West Ham is set to move to Statford at the start of next season after 112 years at Upton Park, "with the current plans seeing the former London 2012 venue to hold 54,000 people." However, because of high demand for season tickets, the board confirmed it is "attempting to add a further 6,000 seats." The Olympic Stadium held 80,000 people and a running track during the Games, "but has been significantly modified in the four years since" (INDEPENDENT, 3/10). In London, Adrian Kajumba reported a statement from the club's board, in which it backed the £30 ($43) cap on away tickets despite standing to lose £2M ($2.9M) in revenue, said, "Following extraordinary demand for tickets at the Hammers’ new world-class home, West Ham are now doing everything in their power to expand the capacity to 60,000." A 60,000 capacity would see the Olympic Stadium replace Man City's Etihad Stadium "as the third largest club ground in the country" (DAILY MIRROR, 3/9).
